Enjoy your break, SaxaSpeak will be back on Monday!

D.C. Colleges Try To Contain Inauguration Gouging

From the National Journal's "Lost in Transition" blog:

"Local colleges have a message for students looking to cash in on the inauguration housing shortage: not a chance.

Last week, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty relaxed city regulations requiring citizens to obtain business licenses before renting their homes, removing legal hurdles for District residents looking to capitalize on the more than one million revelers expected to flood the city. But Fenty's magnanimity did not clear the way for students to sublet their dorm rooms and, so far, colleges aren't in such a generous mood.

Within walking distance of the White House, George Washington University's student housing is prime real estate for would-be inauguration revelers. Dozens of modest studio apartments in Foggy Bottom are already renting from $500 to more than $1,000 a night on craigslist for the days surrounding Jan. 20.

But GWU is moving quickly to ward off similar gouging in its own dorms. Housing officials e-mailed students a special inauguration guest policy last week, limiting the number of visitors in each dorm that week and creating a first-come, first-served online registration system. Halfway into the notice, red letters in large font announce, "Students are reminded that they are not permitted to sublease or rent their space per the terms of the Undergraduate Housing License Agreement."

The letter also warns that campus police and other hired security may stop guests and ask them for identification.

"Everyone across the university regardless of their role will be on heightened alert," said Tracy Schario, GWU director of media relations.

The situation is much the same at American University. Chris Moody, executive director of housing and dining programs, said he has been in contact with his counterparts at Georgetown and GWU to prepare for the looming crush of paid and unpaid visitors to campus dorms. All three schools have vigorous entry policies for on-campus residences, and students that sublet their rooms face sanctions, up to and including expulsion from housing."

Word of the Week: Risible

risible |ˈrizəbəl|
adjective

such as to provoke laughter

DERIVATIVES
risibility |ˌrizəˈbilətē| noun
risibly |-blē| adverb

ORIGIN mid 16th cent.(in the sense [inclined to laughter] ): from late Latin risibilis, from Latin ris- ‘laughed,’ from the verb ridere.

EVENT: Holiday Gala

What: The only Winter semi-formal event open to all Hoyas.

When: Sunday, December 7th 9pm-1am - during the weekend after the end of classes

Where: Galleria at Lafayette Center

Dress: Black Tie Optional: This means if you're a guy you can/should wear a suit unless you're really feeling like James Bond.

To book your ticket, go to thecorp.org/holidaygala.php. Booking tickets in pairs is discounted, but many people go without a date, so you can be confident like Mac from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and go stag.

EVENT: Lessons and Carols

What: music by the GU Chapel Choir & 8pm Mass Choir, and readings for the Advent season.
Where: Holy Trinity (by Walsh and LXR)
When: Friday, December 5, 2008; 7:30-9:00pm

event link

Good news for Hoyas driving home

The average gas price in D.C. area is now $1.97 a gallon!

That's a far cry from the $4 + a gallon we saw in mid-July.

So fill up and drive safely!

Comic Tuesday: Turkeys

Credit

The Tuesday Hoya

Headlines include:

• Obama Draws From GU Community
• As Global Costs Vary, Study Abroad Tuition Stays the Same
• Relay for Life: GU Tops National Colleges
• Ranked Foes Likely Await GU Over Break
• GU Exceeds Expectations, Finishes Ninth in Nation
  

Monday Rankings Watch - 11.24.08

Associated Press: #21

ESPN: #16

The Hoyas are currently 2-0 (0-0) and play their next game against Wichita State on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27 at 2:00 PM in the Old Spice Classic Tournament. Check out the game, if available in your area, on ESPN2.

GU Alum to be tapped for National Security Adviser?

The press reports that Georgetown alumnus Retired General James L. Jones (SFS '66) will likely be offered the position of National Security Adviser in the Obama administration.

Of note: General Jones played for the men's basketball team while an undergraduate at Georgetown.

EVENT: UnityLIVE

What: GU AIDS Coalition's annual benefit concert, featuring
Tiny Francisque [Vocalist],
BMDT,
Ritmo y Sabor,
Harmony,
Jeremy Guyton [Spoken Word],
Groove Theory,
GU Step Team,
GUDC,
Rangila,
Superfood, and
Flip Dis Funk Dat
Where: Gaston Hall
When: Friday, December 5, 2008; 8-10pm
Cost: tickets are $7 in advance, $9 at the door


See the facebook event here.

Improved Hoyas dump Dragons

The Washington Post reports:

"If the improvement between Georgetown's first and second performances is a sign of things to come, Hoyas fans had better buckle up for one heck of a ride.

Looking nothing like the team that staggered through a season-opening victory against Jacksonville, No. 22 Georgetown squashed Drexel 81-53 Saturday at Verizon Center.

The Hoyas (2-0) face a significant step up in competition as they head to the Old Spice Classic on Nov. 27-30 in Orlando, Fla. Georgetown opens the event on Thanksgiving against Wichita State (1-1), but powerhouse squads like No. 14 Tennessee, No. 5 Michigan State and No. 9 Gonzaga might await deeper in the tournament's bracket.

"It's a pretty good tournament, but we're not looking past Orlando," senior guard Jessie Sapp said after matching his career high with five steals. "We're ready for Orlando."

Apple unplugged in Georgetown?

The Washington Business Journal reports:

"Washingtonians won’t be buying iPods and iPhones in Georgetown this holiday season.

Although Apple Inc. paid $13.4 million for a building at 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW more than a year ago, there are no signs the company is moving forward with its plans any time soon.

The storefront remains vacant, its windows covered by white paper. D.C.’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs says no building permits have been requested or issued.

Apple spokeswoman Amy Barney said Thursday that the company still is planning to bring the store to the location, but is making no announcements regarding the timing of the store opening."

Can Mall Be Filled For an Inauguration? 4 Million May Try It.

The Washington Post reports:

"District and federal officials are preparing for as many as 4 million people for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, a crowd that would be three or four times larger than previous big events on the Mall.

Only a fraction of those people will be close enough to get a good look at the action. But officials are planning extra JumboTrons at the Mall and along the inaugural parade route so that spectators can feel a part of the historic day.

"The Mall actually may be the best seat in the house. . . . It'll kind of be like the world's biggest stage and auditorium on January 20th," said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), adding that the crowd projections have emerged in briefings conducted by federal and local officials.

Farouk El-Baz, a Boston University expert who analyzed the crowd size, estimated that the entire two-mile stretch is so open that it could hold 3 million people."

[VIDEO] Weekly Address from the President-elect

Hoyas' principal roles remain undetermined

Georgetown takes on Drexel this afternoon, Tipoff is at 1pm @ the Verizon Center. Go Hoyas! The Washington Post reports:

"Georgetown's season-opening victory against Jacksonville provided an often ugly portrait of a young team attempting to establish its identity. With two crucial roles still unsettled, the No. 22 Hoyas continue that quest Saturday against Drexel.

When center Roy Hibbert and guard Jon Wallace left the Hilltop, the Hoyas were left without their primary scoring option and floor general. Which of this season's Hoyas are capable and willing to shoulder those duties?

If there was a silver lining in Monday's 71-62 victory against the Dolphins, it was that Georgetown looks to have a surprising leading candidate to fill Hibbert's slot. Freshman Greg Monroe scored 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting and was the most consistent cog in Georgetown's halfcourt offense. The 6-foot-11, 250-pound center demonstrated an impressive arsenal of low-post moves and high-post efficiency. His passing and screening from the foul line were advanced well past most than that of freshmen; his drive and jam from the same spot might have been the highlight of the game.

"He is a facilitator," coach John Thompson III said. "For someone who came into college with the accolades and hullabaloo that he had, he is someone who will make his teammates a lot better. A lot of times, those guys are individual talents who have to be taught team concepts. Greg is a team player who happens to have a hell of a lot of individual talent."

GU Math Chair Named D.C.’s Top Professor

The Office Of Communications reports:

"The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) have named Georgetown’s James Sandefur the 2008 District of Columbia Professor of the Year.

Sandefur, professor and chair of the mathematics department at Georgetown, received the title after being selected from a pool of faculty nominated by colleges and universities throughout Washington, D.C.

“Historically, mathematics is not one of the disciplines that people think fondly of,” says Sandefur, “and I appreciate their recognition of the importance of the work I have done with college students.”

The Friday Hoya

Headlines include:

• D.C. Preps for Inauguration Crowds
• Brick by Brick, Cementing the Legacy of Georgetown
• Georgetown Grads Earn Top Salaries
• New Masters Program in Sports Management a Home Run
• New Questions Arise in GU Win
  

DaShonte Riley De-Commits from GU Basketball

Not too much coverage this early in the story, but it appears that Georgetown Basketball big man recruit DaShonte Reily - a Center from Detroit - has reneged on his previous verbal committment to Georgetown to play next year. Check out the thread on HoyaTalk to get the latest information.

EVENT: Georgetown University Fashion Show

• What: Fashion Show

• Where: Gaston Hall

• When: Friday, November 21, 2008, 8-10pm

• Cost: $5 (GU Students) $10 (Outside GU)

All money goes to Terrance De'Shawn Davis fund.
Tickets sold in Red Square or at the door

As if you needed another reason to check gmail

From the Google blog:

"Gmail fans have been building unofficial extensions to spice up their inboxes for a while, but up til now themes haven't been an integral part of Gmail. We wanted to go beyond simple color customization, so out of the 30 odd themes we're launching today, there's a shiny theme with chrome styling, another one that turns your inbox into a retro notepad, nature themes that change scenery over time, weather driven themes that can rain on your mailbox, and fun characters to keep you in good company."

EVENT: Mask & Bauble present "Raised in Captivity"

• What: Raised in Captivity: Familial Dysfunction, Misplaced Guilt, and plenty of Erotic Violence
• Where: Poulton Hall, Stage III
• When:
• Thursday the 20th, 8:00 pm
• Friday the 21st, 8:00 pm
• Saturday the 22nd, 8:00 pm
• Sunday the 23rd, 4:00pm
• Tickets: get them here.
  

Domino's Deal from College Life DC

College Life DC, started by Georgetown Student Brendan Sommerville (C '11), has teamed up with Domino's in Georgetown to offer students a great deal on pizza every Thursday. Call Domino's (202-342-0100), mention College Life DC (.com, and get 50% off every regular priced pizza, breadsticks, cheesy bread, and cinna stix. Rules:

• no limit
• must show student ID
• delivery and carry out
• accept go card
• delivery charges may apply

Thanks for the deal, College Life. I'm hoping this deal extends for their whole business hours today and not just during the actual day, so that late night pizza orders are still half off.

Georgetown ranks among top 10 Most Vegetarian-Friendly Universities in the U.S.

Our neighbors over at American won top honors. Peta reports:

"Norfolk, Va. -- Thousands of votes have been tallied, and American University (AU) in Washington, D.C., has been voted the most vegetarian-friendly university in the U.S. The online contest was sponsored by peta2, the world's largest youth animal rights organization.

Students at AU are raving about the ever-popular spicy Korean barbecue and spicy seitan in miso broth with noodles. Taking second place honors is Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., where students can feast on nutritious favorites such as tangy barbecue tempeh wraps, hearty Moroccan-style chickpea and tomato stew, and seared tofu with broccoli over sticky rice. Rounding out this year's top 10 culinary winners are the University of Oregon, Purchase College, the University of California–Santa Cruz, Ohio University, the University of Florida, the University of Delaware, the University of Texas, and Georgetown University."

Word of the Week: Copacetic

copacetic |ˌkōpəˈsetik| (also copasetic)
adj. informal

very satisfactory


ORIGIN early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

The Tuesday Hoya

Headlines include:

• University Endowment drops 9.5 percent
• GU Students Join Rally Against Proposition 8
• From First Minute, Monroe and Wright Guide Hoyas
• Despite Economic Crisis, Savvy Students Can Succeed
  

Juicy Campus Banned at TSU

According to techcrunch.com, Tennessee State University has just banned access to Juicy Campus from the university internet network. Matt Ivester, founder of Juicy Campus and recent guest of the Georgetown University Lecture Fund, responded with a stinging open letter comparing the TSU administration to the Chinese Government and the George Orwell novel 1984.

Although Ivester definitely descends into hyperbole to make his point, I understand from some points of view that, especially from a State-run university, there could be potential First Amendment issues at play, and the free speech clause definitely isn't in place just to protect people's feelings. As the Supreme Court has said, it's up to the "marketplace of ideas" to devalue speech that is offensive or debasing.

However, the Court has always held that libel is not permissible. Although certainly not all content on Juicy Campus counts as libel outside of the Juicy Campus context, there are definitely some posts that would. If we remember back to the great Napster days, courts ruled that even though Napster was not providing the pirated MP3s to people, simply their setting up a system in which illegal activity is constantly taking place was not protected, even with the presumption against internet regulation. Shouldn't that same idea apply here? Juicy Campus is expressly providing a forum where a large portion of the posts are libel. If Ivester is providing a form where illegal activity is taking place with basically no monitoring of that information, why shouldn't he be liable just like Napster?

Thoughts? Comment Below.

GU-Jacksonville Links and Discussion

Check out the game analysis at:

• Associated Press
• Washington Post
• ESPN
• Examiner.com

My 2 cents:

I thought, first off all, that the team looked good but played like a typical first game JT3 team does. As my friend Kris Rodgers (C '09) pointed out, because JT3 teams are based off of passing and running plays and less on drive and dish play and pure athleticism, the team needs more actualy gameplay than other teams to really gel together (think back to the last game last year - almost losing to William and Mary). I'm sure everybody who was at the game could tell that the win was never a question, and the close score was in part due to the fact that we played out subs a lot, which is probably exactly what we should do considering we're a young team playing an opponent we're prety sure we can beat.

1. Monroe is disgustingly good. A friend who lives in Chicago who had to listen to the Jacksonville broadcast reported that all the announcers could talk about was how he was the best player on the court. Not sure if that is definitely true, but 14 points, 7 boards, and 4 or 5 blocks in your first game as a true freshman is solid. He passed well and scared the crap out of that dude on the fast break where he slammed his hands on the glass. Baller.

2. Chris Wright looked good, handled the ball well, and got some good drive and dish stuff going on. Develops a whole new side to the Princeton.

3. Gotta hit FT's and 3PT's. 'Nuff said.

4. A lot of people are knocking on Summers. He did get in early foul trouble, but definitely stepped up second half. Let's hope he shows his stuff big time versus Drexel.

5. Rebounding. We got beat on the boards. Here's the positive: we won basically every rebound when we actually had big guys down low. We started losing the board when either we played that weird set like last year when the center plays up top and passes the entire time OR when Monroe/Vaughan had to slide to the ball after penetration, leaving the back side of the glass open. Not sure how to fix this (I'm no basketball coach), but it is good to see that we just weren't fighting.

Despite the only 9-point win, I feel really good about this team. I definitely saw flashes of brilliance. As somebody on HoyaTalk wrote, we could have passed the ball down low and played the starters for the whole first half and won by 25, but that's not JT3's style and not the best way to get our young bench acclimated towards in-game play. I'm excited about this season.

Thoughts? Comment below!

Snow (flurry)

It lasted all of about 5 minutes, but was spotted in Burleith. Have people seen any snow before today?

The Capital Weather Gang reports:

"A hearty plunge of polar air is sweeping the eastern half of the nation and it is delivering quite a pre-winter punch. The majority of this week, this weekend, and even possibly next week should see highs only in the 40s (normals are still in the 50s in this part of November). We have a chance of flurries or snow showers around the area this morning and look for another chance potentially on Friday or Friday evening behind another cold front."

Ayers spoke at Georgetown Law Yesterday

The Washington Post reports:

"William Ayers, the Weather Underground founder, popped up in Washington yesterday from his self-imposed no-publicity, no-comment underground and looked like he was loving the sunshine.

He gave two speeches, took questions, told jokes, described his Facebook page, signed autographs. He hugged some old friends from his student days in Ann Arbor and came this close to actually palling around.

Clearly the guy to whom Sarah Palin was referring when she said Barack Obama had been "palling around with terrorists" had a lot of pent-up points to make. For months during the presidential campaign, he said, he had watched himself turned into a "cartoon and a caricature." He said he had been "an unwitting and unwilling participant in this election." But he had remained inscrutable. He had refused "to give a sound bite to the sound-bite culture."

Now, with Obama safely on his way to the White House, at last he could be Ayers the unmuzzled and unbound. Free at last. He seemed delighted and oh-so-ready when a student at the Georgetown University Law Center stood up and asked him a tough, accusatory question. The young man said he was on his way to the Navy after graduation, and asked if the former antiwar militant wished "harm" on him. The young man declared it a "disgrace" that Ayers was allowed on campus.

Ayers, 64, just smiled and invited the young man to sit down. He had a lot to say, he said, and this was going to take some time. "I'll talk for a while and then you can respond."

Comic Tuesday

NB: Click the comic to enlarge it

Comic credit.

Georgetown responds to Cuomo subpoena

More on the NYT's story we posted yesterday. The Washington Post reports:

"Georgetown spokeswoman Julie Bataille said the school is "reviewing the subpoena to determine the appropriate response." She said students are required to have health insurance, but don't have to buy Georgetown's plan. The university provides one option, but most students are covered by another source -- usually their parents, she said, in the case of undergraduates.

The school's Web site says most full-time students are charged once during the year for the "premier plan" designed for Georgetown students and offered by UnitedHealthcare insurance. Students who have coverage of at least $100,000 per illness and $100,000 per injury can opt out of that plan during fall and spring open-enrollment periods, the site says."

Metro could sell SmarTrip cards at CVS

WTOP News reports:

"WASHINGTON - It may soon be easier to pick up a Metro SmarTrip card.

The transit agency has been in negotiations with nearly 200 CVS stores across the region to sell the cards.

If the Metro board approves a plan this week, riders will able to buy SmarTrip cards at CVS stores for $10. The cards will come loaded with $5 of fares already on them.

Metro says it is important to have more locations selling SmarTrip cards since paper bus transfers will be eliminated in January."

Georgetown Looks to the Next Generation

Tipoff is at 7:30 at the Verizon Center tonight. Go Hoyas! The Washington Post reports:

"The beauty of college basketball, Georgetown Coach John Thompson III likes to say, is that it constantly evolves.

There is no such thing as a finished product to sit back and admire, but instead a revolving cast of players, perpetually defining and redefining itself.

Thompson's fondness for that flux -- and the notion that his work, as a result, can never be finished -- will be tested this season.

Will 6-foot-11 freshman Greg Monroe, a McDonald's all-American, show promise of becoming the Hoyas' anchor inside?

Thompson cautions against assuming that Monroe will simply step into Hibbert's role, characterizing him instead as "a facilitator."

He's someone who'll make his teammates a lot better," Thompson said of the sought-after recruit. "He has an affinity and a gift for being able to pass the ball."

Teammates rave about Monroe's work ethic in practice.

"I love the kid!" gushed junior forward DaJuan Summers, who returns for his third season as a starter. "He works tremendously hard. His skill set is very good. And he's very aware of what's going on the game. For a young guy, that's not really likely to have the understanding he does."

Cuomo Investigating Colleges’ Deals With Health Insurers

The New York Times reports:

"The New York attorney general began sending subpoenas and document requests this month to colleges including Columbia, Cornell, Georgetown and several State University of New York campuses as part of an investigation of relationships between the colleges and health insurance companies that cover students.

The investigation by the attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo, appears to be focused on the adequacy of disclosure of policy terms and costs to students. Investigators also appear to be looking into whether colleges are receiving any improper payments in exchange for requiring students to use a particular insurer."

It's not the first time Cuomo has subpoenaed Georgetown.

Update: Georgetown professor lands position as 'car czar' in Obama administration

The Wall Street Journal reports:

"The president-elect doesn't want to take office Jan. 20 with the auto industry -- long the backbone of the nation's industry -- in a shambles, according to aides. "He wants to prevent a situation like Lehman, where you flail yourself into an uncontrolled bankruptcy," a senior Obama aide said Tuesday, referring to the sudden and damaging collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. "This can't wait until Jan. 20."

Dan Tarullo, a Georgetown University law professor and a top Obama adviser on trade, has been appointed to lead the auto-company transition efforts, according to Rep. Sander Levin (D., Mich.), a key lawmaker involved. Obama aides said Mr. Tarullo is one of a number of advisers assigned to the issue. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and former Michigan Rep. David Bonior have been given prominent seats at the table."

EVENT: 2008 National Press Club Book Fair

• What: One of Washington’s largest literary events, the National Press Club Book Fair will host more than 80 authors this year. Children’s books, cookbooks, photography books, Washington exposés, histories, and best-selling fiction will all represented. Meet the authors, get the story behind the story and have them sign your purchase. This is an ideal place to begin your holiday gift-buying.

• Where: The National Press Club, 14 & F Streets, NW

• When: Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 5:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

• Cost: $5.00 for a ticket.

Click here for a full list of authors.

Feinstein to Ban Sale of Inauguration Tickets

The Washington Post reports:

"Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the committee, announced Monday that she was contacting sites to ask them to stop selling tickets to the Jan. 20 event. She said she was drafting legislation to criminalize the sales.

In a statement, Feinstein said eBay "led the way and I hope other Internet companies will follow."

The tickets will be distributed about a week before the ceremony. Members of Congress have been swamped with requests, and some offices have asked constituents to stop calling until they can figure out how to allocate them. Some lawmakers are talking about conducting lotteries.

The tickets admit people to a main viewing area between the West Front of the Capitol and Fourth Street NW. Those without tickets can join the scene at the Mall but will be several blocks from the action."

EVENT: Georgetown Flea Market TODAY

What: Flea Market
Where: 1819 35th St. NW (parking lot across from Safeway on Wisconsin)
When: till 5pm.

Art to spice up your room, used bikes, DVDs etc.

Seniors, Philanthropy Awareness Week!

Please join the Class of 2009 Fund Committee as we bring awareness of philanthropy to Georgetown for a whole week through great events and giveaways!

Monday, November 17th:
- Join the Class of 2009 Fund at the first Men's Basketball game of the season at the Verizon Center, as Georgetown takes on Jacksonville.
- After the game, join us at The Tombs for Georgetown Trivia and a chance to win great athletics gear and more!

Tuesday, November 18th:
- Stop by the Wagner Alumni House between 9:30-11:30 am and pick up a free Krispy Kreme Donut and Coffee at our Breakfast for Champions of the '09 Fund!
- Grab some more granolas and water inside Lauinger at our second Snack Attack! of the week from 10:00 - 11:30 pm.

Wednesday, November 19th:
- Make your gift to the '09 Fund and come to our Performing Arts Night from 8:30 - 10:00 pm at McShain Lounge (Large), including GU Improv, The Chimes, and others!

Thursday, November 20th:
- Come to the Wagner Alumni House to have a conversation with Director of Athletics, Bernard Muir, on the future of Georgetown Athletics from 5:30 - 7:00 pm. Free food will be served!

Friday, November 21st:
- Pick up another free donut and coffee at in Red Square this time, between 10:00 - 11:30 am!

Saturday, November 22nd:
- Come to the first Saturday Men's Basketball game at the Verizon Center, when Georgetown takes on Drexel! The '09 Fund will announce the winners of the Hoya basketball signed by JTIII!

As always, please remember that you can give to the Class of 2009 Fund throughout the week, and we encourage you to do so! You can make your gift by stopping by the Alumni House, talking to a committee member, or giving online at http://giving.georgetown.edu and clicking on "Students". We look forward to seeing everyone throughout the week!

The YouTube Presidency

The Washington Post reports:

"Today, President-elect Obama will record the weekly Democratic address not just on radio but also on video -- a first. The address, typically four minutes long, will be turned into a YouTube video and posted on Obama's transition site, Change.gov, once the radio address is made public on Saturday morning."

Today's video, below:

MUG Scholarships

More Uncommon Grounds (MUG), located in the 3rd floor atrium of the ICC, is an entirely student owned and operated full service coffee shop. MUG is operated by Students of Georgetown, Inc. (the Corp), the largest student-run company in the United States. In order to better serve the students of Georgetown and give back to our valued patrons, MUG pays the entirety of its annual rent in scholarships. The scholarships, worth $8,500, are open to all undergraduate students regardless of need. They will be awarded in denominations of $1500, $1000 and $500. Applications must be submitted at MUG by 6:30pm Tuesday, November 25th.

Applications can be found at MUG or online at thecorp.org

EVENT: GPB presents "The Dark Knight"

• What: showing of "The Dark Knight"
• Where: ICC Auditorium
• When: 7:30PM and 10:00PM, Nov. 14-16
• Cost: Free
  

Brought to you by the Georgetown Program Board.

Op-Ed: Does Georgetown care about us?

In today's Hoya, The Hoya editor-in-chief Bailey Heaps wrote an article about the struggle Georgetown students experience in wondering whether Georgetown actually cares about its undergraduates. Despite his knowledge of administrators who care (all of whom I can say that from personal expericence Bailey is spot on about how much they care), there are some major problems with the way Georgetown as an institution treats its undergrads. He lists the following points:

1. Many workers at student services (DPS, Housing, the Health Center, and so on) treat students like a burden, rather than the respect they deserve as intelligent individuals and people whose families pay upwards of $50,000 for them to be at Georgetown.
2. Problematic academic advising, especially in the College.
3. Little accountability - the university is pretty strick on students being accountable, whether in class or at a party, yet its nothing for the university to reneg on a promise, miss a deadline, or not play their part in being a good community member (wireless on campus, anyone?)
4. DeGioia doesn't interact with students enough.

Bailey's article, in my opinion, is one of the best articulations of why students are upset about the administration. If you ask my opinion, I'd say points 1 and 3 are most accurate. I've called environmental safety about an issue in my house that cause medical problems only to be ignored, I've been hung up on because I called facilities to fix something in my house, and I've been put on hold for an hour when I called to make an appointment in the Health Center. The worst is the accountability. We get a letter grade off if we turn in a paper late, and God forbid we drink in New South - that's a fine and community service hours. But the university delivers Epicurian years late, doesn't provide wireless across campus (hell, some ENTIRE cities are wireless now, like Philadelphia), and ignores student input on major issues such as the keg ban. If we have to be good citizens of the community, then the university should be held to the same standards.

But, in the end, I love Georgetown. So thanks to all the students and the people like Dr. Porterfield, Dr. Arend, Fathers Maher, Schall, and Steck, Dr. Olson, and all the other administrators/professors who do care about Georgetown and act as the saving grace for an administration that often gives the appearence of indifference.

The Friday Hoya

Headlines include:

• DOH Hits Leo's With Seven Violations
  
• Assailant Pleads Guilty In Bias Attack
  
• Two GU Alumni Attacked on Election Night
  
• Editorial: SAC Would Help Itself and Hoyas With More Transparency
• Editorial: Basketball Season Tickets Should Have More Bang for the Buck
  

The Thursday Voice

Headlines include:

• In pre-registration, knowledge is power
• Think Prop 8 is bad? Wait till you see Act 1
• Tuesday night revelry sours
• Synecdoche: A story of its own
  

Georgetown professor could land position as 'car czar' in Obama administration

Autoblog reports:

"Soon after President-elect Obama and still-President Bush sat down on Monday, reports began to surface that the Obama camp was considering the appointment of a "Car Czar." The position would provide the new administration with analysis and advice on the auto industry and the financial (and product?) perils faced by Detroit Big 3(ish).

The original report by the Detroit News said that both Bush and Obama could be in favor of appointing an auto czar to oversee Federal efforts to provide emergency assistance to domestic automakers, and now Automotive News has thrown a name into the ring; Daniel Tarullo, a law professor at Georgetown University and expert on international economics"

EVENT: Chimes Night @ the Tombs

• What: the Georgetown Chimes
• Where: The Tombs
• When: Tonight, 8:00-9:30pm
  

Electoral Dysfunction: In Search of Election Night Sex

Too wierd not to share. Washington City Paper reports:

"When Barack Obama became president-elect of the United States, Washingtonians made sure that eight years of Bush administration rule came to an appropriate end.

The anticipation for an Obama presidency began as a casual flirtation with his 2004 DNC speech, mounted with two years of election-season foreplay, and finally culminated in a clusterfuck when the election was called at 11 p.m. on Nov. 4. The celebration was a double entendre of epic proportions—an orgasmic display of patriotism by thousands of wet people who erupted into the rainy streets of Washington to remove their clothing, embrace strangers, and engage in unbridled dancing.

Some Washingtonians ventured to take the analogy further.

“There was a pent-up desire for the Democrat to win, and when he did, his supporters wanted to manifest it in their own lives in a very real way,” says Brian, 42, an Obama supporter. Obama’s win provided the most likely scenario for getting laid this decade. But unlike local campaign staffers, who had been sowing the seeds of election-night hook-ups since the primaries, some locals were hard-pressed to find a historical hook-up. “That’s where my ad came in,” says Brian.

Shortly after Obama’s win, Brian registered the e-mail address celebratorysex@yahoo.com—”I couldn’t believe it wasn’t taken,” he says—and began trolling for some post-election coitus. Brian posted the address in a Craigslist personals ad requesting some help filling the sexual void left in the wake of political upheaval. “I am so excited by the election that I am very horny. I want to grab a willing partner by the hair and take her in a mad, passionate, kinky and rough manner,” Brian wrote. “Looking for someone who was so turned on by the results and wants to celebrate passionately with a tall, take-charge white man.”

EVENT: Take Back the Night Fundraiser for DC Rape Crisis Center

• What: A game of capture the flag sponsored by Take Back the Night. This is a fundraiser for DC Rape Crisis Center. Any donations are welcome.
• Where: Copley Lawn
• When: November 12, 2008, 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Word of the Week: Absquatulate

absquatulate |abˈskwä ch əˌlāt|
verb [ intrans. ] humorous

to leave abruptly

DERIVATIVES
absquatulation |abˌskwä ch əˈlā sh ən| noun

ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: blend, simulating a Latin form, of abscond, squattle [depart,] and perambulate.

iTunes Store finally gets a bargain bin for movies

Arstechnica reports:

"The glory days of grabbing that $5 DVD at the road trip pit-stop or Target checkout counter have finally made their digital transition to the iTunes Store.

With a new section unfortunately called "This Week's Great Movies Under $5" (iTunes link), a set of movies will be offered for purchase each week for... well, $5 (interestingly, they can still be rented at the regular $2.99 price). This first—and small—batch of movies is a bit older, most of them being on the action side of the store. There is also a strong Schwarzenegger presence this week with titles like 1991's Terminator 2: Judgement Day (which leads the pack as the "Movie of the Week"), 1993's The Last Action Hero, and 1984's The Karate Kid—all three movies which I'm downloading as I write this."

Dr. Google

The New York times is reporting that Google is starting to track searches for "flu symptoms" and similar phrases in an effort to track the spread of the influenza virus this winter. The new tool, Google Flu Trends,

"is based on the simple idea that people who are feeling sick will probably turn to the Web for information, typing things like “flu symptoms” or “muscle aches” into Google. The service tracks such queries and charts their ebb and flow, broken down by regions and states.

Early tests suggest that the service may be able to detect regional outbreaks of the flu a week to 10 days before they are reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some public health experts say that could help accelerate the response of doctors, hospitals and public health officials to a nasty flu season, reducing the spread of the disease and, potentially, saving lives."

I wonder how accurate it will be to specific areas. At an environment like a university, the amount of concentrated people all taking classes together must mean that the flu gets spread easier. It would be pretty impressive if Google Flu Trends could accurately track the flu by zip code - meaning it could track Georgetown through our campus-specific 20057 zip-code.

Albright: “Be patient”

Talk Radio News Service reports:

"Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright discussed her new book “Memo to the President: How We Can Restore America’s Reputation and Leadership” at Georgetown University. She said that unlike previous presidents, President-Elect Obama is going to “inherit the entire emergency room and patient #1 is the economy.” Dr. Albright advised that Obama find a set of balances for all sorts of policies that the Bush administration has allowed to fall to extremes. She advised balance of credit lending in America, and of the government’s involvement in other financial institutions. Albright also talked about a multilateral foreign policy that would make North Korea abandon their nuclear program, stop Iran from expanding theirs, begin to withdraw troops from Iraq, and end genocide in Darfur and the civil war in the Congo. She warned that America must “be patient,” however, and that Obama has a lot more on his plate than many realize."

Albright was also on NPR yesterday discussing the same. Click here to listen.

Comic Tuesday: Academic Fields

NB: Click on the comic to enlarge it.

The Tuesday Hoya

Headlines include:

• Science Center, Capital Projects Stall in Sluggish Economy
  
• Early Applicant Pool Rises Despite Financial Crisis
  
• Student Sent to Hospital After Sex Assault
  
• Editorial: First-Class Classes

You could pay for 2+ years of a Georgetown tuition or you could...

The National Post reports:

"Luxury hotels in the U. S. capital are upping the hype factor surrounding the swearing in of America's first black president with five-and six-figure packages that include everything from a chauffer-driven Maserati to custom ball gowns to round-the-clock limousine service they expect to be snapped up before president-elect Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20.

The Fairmont Washington, D. C. is offering an "Eco-Inaugural Package" priced at US$40,000. It includes a fournight stay for two in the hotel's Lexus Hybrid Living Suite, an organic custom ball gown from eco-friendly designer Linda Loudermilk, an organic in-suite dinner for eight, two butlers and a Lexus LS 600h L hybrid vehicle that comes with a driver.

Not to be outdone, the Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown is offering a US$99,000 "Politically Correct" package that comes with Gucci luggage, a four-night stay in a Presidential Suite, two tickets to the inaugural parade and an official inaugural ball and, to relax after the party's over, a fournight stay at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman."

GU Law Professor is senior economic adviser to Obama

The Christian Science Monitor reports:

"On the transition in economic policy, transition co-chair John Podesta said, Obama has designated Georgetown professor Daniel Tarullo (COL '73) as one of his senior economic advisers to be fully briefed on what’s happening at the Treasury Department with the $700 billion bailout package. Mr. Tarullo has already been speaking with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and will meet with him on Monday, Podesta says."

MGM Studios first to post full-length features on YouTube

Yahoo Tech News reports:

"Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Studios, better known as MGM, will be the first major movie studio to post full-length feature films on YouTube, the company announced Sunday.

CNET News reported on Thursday that YouTube was preparing to launch a feature-film service after spending months smoothing over fractured relationships in Hollywood.

MGM will likely not be the last studio to post full-length feature films on YouTube, according to an industry source. Last summer, Lionsgate announced a partnership with YouTube, but that deal calls for the studio to offer only short clips from films and TV shows. MGM will also post TV shows on YouTube, according to multiple reports published on Sunday."

Washington, D.C., area residents field calls from friends, family hoping for place to stay during inauguration

From The Mercury News:

"WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama hadn't left the stage at Chicago's Grant Park on Tuesday night when telephones started jingling across the Washington area.

America, apparently, is looking for a place to crash.

"People who haven't called me in months, years, are suddenly calling and saying, 'Hey, I was just thinking about you,' " said Eric Tyson, 29, a pharmaceutical salesman who lives in Anacostia. "And then, as the conversation continues, they say they might be up for the inauguration and then they ask how many people are staying at my house."

The same kind of conversation is happening across the region, as the inauguration of the first African-American president — whose diverse, fervent following filled arenas on the campaign trail — has people from across the country and around the world planning to be in Washington on Jan. 20.

In Mitchellville, Md., Elease Houston's nephew called from Atlanta. In Georgetown, Kyle Gibson received an e-mail from a buddy looking for a bunk. In Northwest Washington, Astrid Trinh fielded calls from loved ones in four different European countries."

Cultural revolution sweeps the world's power capital

From the Guardian:

"Washington is a peculiar city to be hosting the nation's first biracial president and his family, too. There is a widespread perception that the supposedly glitzy Georgetown and its 99 per cent white population is synonymous with Washington itself, but around two-thirds of the city's population is black or Latino and generally poor; it is the last American city where there is, in effect, still apartheid.

Had Obama strolled a few hundred yards from the safe confines of the Monocle, for example, he would have found himself in the black slums of 'North East' so dreaded by whites who have never actually been there. The decision over which school to send his daughters to thus has possible racial implications - and not only for them. It will also send signals about Obama's attitude to race to the outside world. The two girls will almost certainly end up in a predominantly white private school; the current favourite is Sidwell Friends (which Chelsea Clinton attended), but I'm told that the even more exclusive Maret School is high on the Obamas' shortlist.

Washington's new ins and outs

Bars and restaurants
IN: Bombay Club, Bill and Hillary Clinton's favourite curry house; Oval Room, part of the same restaurant group; Stetson's bar and grill, and Morton's Steakhouse, both popular Democratic haunts; Luigi's restaurant, where Rahm Emanuel, Obama's chief of staff, has been seen lunching on pizza and other Italian fare.

OUT: Capital Grille on Pennsylvania Avenue, where Republican congressmen and lobbyists reputedly feast on 24oz porterhouse steaks, smoke Davidoff cigars and flirt.

Columnists and commentators

IN: Paul Krugman, New York Times columnist and Nobel Prize economist - initially sceptical about Obama but an indispensable sage of the financial crisis; Eugene Robinson, associate editor of the Washington Post, author of Coal to Cream: A Black Man's Journey Beyond Colour to an Affirmation of Race; Steve Coll, author of Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan and Bin Laden.

OUT: Charles Krauthammer, hugely influential Fox News pundit who came down on the neocon side over Iraq; Frank Gaffney, former Reagan official and neocon hardliner; Oliver North, former US marine infamous for the Iran-Contra affair; Wesley Pruden, conservative former editor of the Washington Times."

The Friday Hoya

Headlines include:

• Students Abroad Tune In to Elections
• Watching the Racial Divide Fall
• Unity Commission Restored With Senate Oversight
• Across the Nation, Alumni Names Appear on Ballots
  

EVENT: Pineapple Express

Tonight: 7:30-11:30pm & 12:00-2:00am

Tomorrow: 7:30-11:30pm & 12:00-2:00am

Sunday: 7:30-9:30pm

WHERE: ICC Auditorium

Brought to you by the Georgetown Program Board. 

SweetGreen Wednesdays

A facebook invite has been circulating around the Georgetown network that says:

"you know about qdoba mondays and rugby tuesdays, now get ready for winter wednesdays at Sweetgreen to make up for all the burritos, burgers and beer. wednesdays at sweetgreen students get a FREE small yogurt with purchase of any salad. bring your gocard

STARTS NOVEMBER 12TH AND GOES THROUGH THE WINTER."

If you haven't had the Sweetflow yogurt, you should definitely go. It's fantastic.

This Week's Voice: Qatar and Elections

Ever wanted to go to Qatar? This week's Voice takes you there and more:

• Actually, maybe you don't want to go to Qatar. In this week's cover story, Jeff Reger uncovers a miserable situation for the country's workers and what Georgetown's doing to fix it.
• In News, a late-night walk on campus goes bad and East Campus loses water pressure.
• Leisure catches on to the hottest trend for the desperately cheap and sober: red wine and Coke.

Red wine and Coke are incredibly underrated.

Basketball Preview Forthcoming

Look for The Hoya to release its 2008-2009 Basketball Preview early next week.


Alumni can order their copies here.


Highlights include in-depth features on Jessie Sapp and DaJuan Summers

Georgetown Cupcake wins cupcake wars

Look for an interview with a Georgetown student

Post Election Coverage

Students at the White House:





President elect Barack Obama's acceptance speech:

Word of the Week: Apricate

Apricate
verb
Ap"ri*cate\, v. t. & i.

To bask in the sun.

[L. apricatus, p. p. of apricare, fr. apricus exposed to the sun, fr. aperire to uncover, open.]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996

Obama wins election

A number of SaxaSpeak's democratic members were in front of the White House this evening to celebrate along with thousands of others. 

It was incredible. 

Comic Tuesday: Reading Assignment

NB: Click on the comic to enlarge it. 

Comic Credit

If The Other Party Wins

The Tuesday Hoya

Headlines from today's Hoya:

• Professors Positioned for Political Jobs
  
• GUCRs and GUCDs Make Final Push
  
• GU Jumps to Fourth-Costliest School in U.S.
  
• Editorial: Decision Day
  
• Editorial: Help GUSA Help Students
• Editorial: Privacy is America's Foundation
  

The Independent: November 2008

Some headlines from this month's Indy:

• Cover: Ranking Reality: A Look at Georgetown's Black Identity
  
• News Feature: Fewer Jesuits: Is Georgetown's Catholic Identity at Risk?
• Commentary: A Miss Manners Guide to Hooking Up
• Point/Counterpoint: Daniel Craig vs. Pierce Brosnan: Which Bond is Better?
• A&E: Dancing Since 1974: A Look at the Georgetown Dance Company
  
• A&E: The National Gallery Breathes New Life into Pompeii
  

Check out the website for more content, and don't forget to visit our new blog, The Daily Monthly!

EVENT: '09 Fund Committee Blue Moon Party

SENIORS - Come join the Class of 2009 Fund Committee (formerly the Senior Class Gift Committee) as they kick-off their campaign! Stop by the Alumni House for free Blue Moon beer and white wine, GUGS, and great music!

Mr. Teddy Siebert will be DJing so don't miss out!

Date: Friday, November 7th
Time: 7:30 - 10:30 pm
Where: Alumni House (36th & O)

Free Cup of Starbucks Coffee if you Vote on Tuesday

According to this facebook event, Starbucks is giving away free coffee tomorrow if you tell them you voted.

There's a Starbucks on Wisconsin and on M st. Unclear if the Starbucks kiosk in Leavey will recognize this giveaway.

New Play Redefines Political Theater, and The Audience's Role

The Washington Post reviews "The Race", a new play that recently premiered on campus. You can see it at the Davis Performing Arts center on November 5-8 at 8 p.m.

"The young woman in the front-row bleacher seat didn't need any coaxing. It was an audience-participation moment of Georgetown University's new interactive play, "The Race," in which spectators volunteer to enter an arena and read aloud a candidate's words from a pair of video prompters. The segment is called "Presidential Speech Karaoke."

She bounded, practically self-selected, onto the stage and -- mulling over a menu of speeches by the likes of Mike Huckabee, Hillary Clinton and those two fellows who eventually landed the major-party nods -- chose the words of another also-ran, Rudolph Giuliani. With mike in hand, she followed the scrolling sentences -- which, to the knowing laughs of other audience members, included the mandatory reference to Sept. 11, 2001.

The karaoke in "The Race" is more than a gimmick. It's one of many theatrical devices that this up-to-the-minute exercise in civic theater uses to encourage audiences to open up about a topic that the show's creators believe gets short shrift, even in an election year, and even in the nation's capital: Americans' notions of what a leader should be."

Want a free education? A brief guide to the burgeoning world of online video lectures

The Boston Globe reports:

"The rise this year of a host of new Web video sites targeting high-minded, edifying content suggests that today's marketplace of ideas is rapidly moving online. "The Last Lecture," a 76-minute video by the late engineering professor Randy Pausch recorded late last year, became a crossover phenomenon - viewed by at least 7 million - and easily one of the most widely watched academic events in history. The buzzy presentation shorts of TED surged past 50 million viewings on only their second birthday.

Newly minted video start-ups Fora.tv and Bigthink.com, boasting auspicious programming starring top-shelf public intellectuals, each pledged this year to become a thinking person's YouTube: With combined inventories in the tens of thousands of clips and numerous partnerships with major media properties, that viewership is only expanding. And iTunes U., a multimedia channel of free higher education content at the iTunes Store, continued to amass its increasingly Amazonian stockpile of labs and lectures from schools around the world."

College Know It All

A Georgetown alum, Lauren McKibben (COL '07), has recently started an interactive college rankings site called College Know It All. The site's tagline is:

Unbiased. Unfiltered. Did we mention 100% free?
College Ratings submitted by real college students.

Basically, students can register and rate their school along many different domains, including college town, academics, clubs, night life, and so on. What it seems to be is the Princeton Review done by students and accessible for free for all. I would think this is something that is going to be really popular with high school juniors and seniors.

Right now, Georgetown is ranked #33. I think we should be higher than that, so sign up and rate us well!

In case you missed it

EVENT: Georgetown Flea Market TODAY

What: Flea Market
Where: 1819 35th St. NW (parking lot across from Safeway on Wisconsin)
When: till 5pm.

Art to spice up your room, used bikes, DVDs etc.

Corp Shareholders Extravaganza! TODAY

The Corp just recorded a record year in operating income and wants to thank all of you, the students of Georgetown, for supporting our many services. All Georgetown students are considered official shareholders in our company and this is our way of returning the fruits of our record year to all of you!

There will be free t-shirts, free food, cotton candy, music, and inflatables on Copley Lawn on November 1 starting at 11 am. We're also including giveaways from all our services, including a raffle where you can win an iPod.

Come join us and see what the Corp is all about!

Fox Sports shows us some love

Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports reports:

"I'm not sure why so many people seem to be writing Georgetown off.
Sure, the Hoyas lost a lot of talent and experience with the departure of Roy Hibbert, Jonathan Wallace and Patrick Ewing Jr.

But John Thompson III won't lack for talent. Trust me.

Georgetown brings in arguably the top freshman in the entire country in skilled 6-foot-10 Louisiana native Greg Monroe and also returns a nucleus that includes DaJuan Summers, Jessie Sapp and Austin Freeman.

Summers and Sapp have Final Four experience from the Hoyas' run two years ago, and Freeman is a big-time scoring guard who is coming off a solid freshman campaign where he nearly averaged double-figures.

JT3's biggest concern isn't necessarily replacing Hibbert down low; it's how quickly he's able to trust sophomore Chris Wright.

• Why they'll make the Final Four: If Chris Wright can grow up quickly.
• Why they're getting bounced in the first round: If Wright is erratic.
• You don't know him ... yet: Greg Monroe — There isn't much he can't do. He can score in the paint, is a terrific passer for someone his size and can also handle it.
• Why you'll want to pay attention before March: To see if the Hoyas are as underrated as I feel they are.
• Prediction: Fifth in the Big East
• Games that will determine their season: Dec. 13 vs. Memphis; Dec. 29 at UConn; Jan. 5 at Notre Dame; Feb. 23 vs. Louisville.

Student Renters Get Help With Housing

The New York Times reports:

"WASHINGTON — David Pratt, a transfer student to American University here, was ready to settle for almost anything after a monthlong housing search. So, when he visited a row house in the Georgetown neighborhood, he overlooked the peeling paint, the splintered floorboards, the shattered windows and the washing machine that drained onto the floor.

“I didn’t notice all those things,” Mr. Pratt said. “I was just happy to have found the place.”
In August, when Mr. Pratt and his housemates moved in, the previous tenants were gone and the 140-year-old house’s problems were glaring. Disenchanted, Mr. Pratt, 22, began looking for help.

A quick Internet search found thisshouldbeillegal.com, a Web site set up in August by city housing officials as part of a campaign for students and others looking to rent legal and safe housing.

The city set up accounts on free Web sites, including Facebook, Twitter and WordPress, with links to housing codes, an inspection checklist used by the city, and a searchable database of landlords’ business licenses. Renters can also use the sites anonymously to report violations or to request inspections."